Insect
Monarch Butterfly
The insect that migrates thousands of miles
Insects
The guide features 29 species in the insect class. Each profile answers the most-searched questions first.
What are insects?
Insects are six-legged invertebrates with a hard external skeleton (exoskeleton) and a body divided into three parts: head, thorax, and abdomen. Most have antennae, and many have wings — insects were the first animals to evolve flight. With millions of species, they are the most diverse group of animals on Earth and act as essential pollinators, decomposers, and food-web links.
Insect
Leafcutter Ant
Ant farmers that cut leaves to grow fungus
Insect
Bed Bug
The blood-feeding pest of mattresses worldwide
Insect
Army Ant
Nomadic swarm-raiding ants of the Neotropics
Insect
Honey Bee
The pollinator that powers much of the food we eat
Insect
Ladybug
The spotted beetle gardeners love
Insect
Ant
The tireless team-working insect
Insect
Indian Stick Insect
Master of twig camouflage
Insect
Orchid Mantis
The Southeast Asian insect that mimics a flower to lure and ambush prey
Insect
Carpenter Bee
Wood-boring giant bee of eastern gardens
Insect
Mosquito
The tiny insect with an outsized impact
Insect
Bumblebee
The fuzzy, hard-working pollinator of meadows and gardens
Insect
Wasp
The yellow-and-black predator and scavenger of summer
Insect
Firefly
The glowing beetle of warm summer nights
Insect
Asian Giant Hornet
The world's largest hornet
Insect
Cicada
The loud summer singer with a long underground youth
Insect
Praying Mantis
The patient ambush predator with folded arms
Insect
Termite
The colony-building recycler of dead wood
Insect
Stag Beetle
The large beetle with antler-like jaws
Insect
Housefly
The familiar fly found wherever people live
Insect
Dung Beetle
The strong beetle that rolls balls of dung
Insect
Luna Moth
The large, pale-green silk moth with long tails
Insect
Dragonfly
The agile aerial hunter of ponds and streams
Insect
Flea
The wingless parasite famous for jumping
Insect
Grasshopper
The jumping insect of fields and meadows
Insect
Rhinoceros Beetle
One of the strongest animals for its size
Insect
Cockroach
The hardy survivor that lives almost anywhere
Insect
Cricket
The chirping insect of warm evenings
Insect
Yellowjacket
The bold black-and-yellow social wasp
Frequently asked questions
What are insects?
Insects are six-legged invertebrates with a hard external skeleton (exoskeleton) and a body divided into three parts: head, thorax, and abdomen. Most have antennae, and many have wings — insects were the first animals to evolve flight. With millions of species, they are the most diverse group of animals on Earth and act as essential pollinators, decomposers, and food-web links.
How many insects are in the Global Animal Guide?
The Global Animal Guide currently features 29 insects with full, answer-first profiles covering diet, habitat, size, and conservation status.